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(ll. 


DECEMBER,    1922. 


Special  Numbbk 


PRICE   THREE  SHILLINGS, 


The    Royal    United    Service    Institution,    Whitehall,    S.W. 

Printed  and  sold  by  Sir  W.  C.  Leng  &  Co.,  Ltd.,  Sheffield. 

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THE  SOCIETY  OF  ARMY  HISTORICAL  RESEARCH, 


President. 
The  Viscount  Dillon,  C.H.,  F.S.A. 

Vice-Presidents  . 
Major-Gen.  Sir  V.  A.  Couper,  K.C.B. 
Major-Gen.  Sir  Webb  Gillman,   K.C..\1.( 
Major-Gen.  Sir  W.  H.  Anderson,  K.C.B. 
The  Kon.  J.  W.  Fortescue,  C.V.O. 
Colonel  C.  Field. 

Council. 

Lieut.-Ct)l.  Sir  Arthur  Leetham,  Kt.,  CM. 

{Ckairmun). 
W.  Y.  Baldry,  Esq. 

Lieut.-Col.  Lewis  Butler. 

Capt.  L.  S.  Challis,  T.D. 

Major  A.  C.  Chamier. 

Brig.-Gen.  J.  E.  Edmonds,  C.13.,   ( M.c;. 

Col.  G.  Frend,   C.B.,   M.K.W. 

Lieut.-Col.  J.  H.  Leslie  (Hon.  Editor). 

Sir  Charles  Oman,  K.B.E..  \1.1\ 

Major  C.  S.  Owen. 

Major  H.  G.  Parkyn,  O.B.E. 

A.  S.  White,  Esq.  (Hon.  Sec). 


THE    JOURNAL 

OF     THE 

Society  of  Army  Historical  Research 

Vol.  I.  DECEMBER,    1922.  Special  No. 

•      !•%«;••  * 

TANGIER— 1680.  f*   ,,  :    :::•:*;::; 

The  Diary  of  Sir  James  iHalkett. 

With  an  Introduction  and  Notes  by  Captain  H.  M.  McCance. 


INTRODUCTION. 

This  manuscript  diary  belongs  to  the  Library  of  the  Society  of 
Writers  to  H.M.  Signet,  in  Edinburgh,  by  whom  permission  to  repro- 
duce has  been  kindly  given. 

It  is  the  Diary  kept  by  Sir  James  Halkett,  Major  in  Dumbarton's 
Regiment,  now  "The  Royal  Scots  (The  Royal  Regiment),"  in  the 
year  1680,  at  Tangier,  and  must  be  one  of  the  earliest  specimens  of  a 
War  Diary. 

The  size  of  the  volume  is  8f"  by  6J".  It  has  a  title  page,  the 
verso  of  which  is  blank ;  there  are  40  pages  of  manuscript,  and  a  blank 
leaf  at  the  end. 

The  narrative  ends  abruptly  and  seems  never  to  have  been  com- 
pleted by  Sir  James,  probably  owing  to  his  death  in  October,  1684, 
shortly  after  his  return  to  England. 

It  seems  not  to  have  been  known  to  Miss  Routh,  as  it  is  not 
included  in  the  very  complete  list  of  books,  pamphlets,  etc.,  on  Tangier, 
given  in  her  book  Tangier,   166 1 — 1684. 

Tangier  had  been  in  possession  of  the  English  since  1661,  and 
Halkett  had  served  there  when  the  Earl  of  Teviot  was  Governor, 
1663-4.  I"  1680,  in  response  to  urgent  appeals  from  the  Governor  for 
re-inforcements,  4  companies  of  Dumbarton's  Regiment  were 
dispatched  from  Ireland  in  H.M.  ships  "James,"  "Swan,"  and 
"Garland,"  arriving  at  Tangier  on  4  April,  in  time  for  the  severe 
engagements  with  the  Moors  in  April  and  May.  These  were  followed 
by  12  more  Companies  in  H.M.  ships  "Ruby,"  "Phoenix,"  "Gar- 
land,"   and    "  Guernsey,"    which    arrived    on    30    July,    under    the 


R^52049 


2  TANGIER — l6So. 

command  of  "the  valorous  Hackett,  Major  to  that  renowned  regiment 
of  the  Earle  of  Dunbarton  "  (Ross),  who  further  describes  the  men  of 
Dumbarton's  as  "  of  approved  valour,  whose  fame  echoed  the  sound 
of  the  glorious  actions  and  achievements  in  France  and  other  nations, 
leaving  behind  them  a  report  of  their  glorious  victories  wherever  they 
came  both  at  home  and  abroad ;  every  place  witnessing  and  giving 
large  testimony  to  their  renown."  The  logs  of  the  "  Ruby  "  and 
"Phoenix"  are  now  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  London,  and  give 
interesting  details  of  the  Companies  and  their  experiences  during  the 
voyage. 

Four  independent  Companies,  from  Ireland,  were  added  to 
•  Dumbar-tpp'^-idj  and  the  whole  were  temporarily  formed  into  a  regiment 
■in  tv/o  battalions,  under  Halkett,  and  ordered  to  take  precedence  as 
JDitra;bartpn;s^."  that  is  to  say,  next  after  the  Guards." 
"  '  Thesfe' "Companies  of  Dumbarton's  took  part  in  all  the  subsequent 
fighting,  remaining  in  garrison  at  Tangier  till  1684,  when  the  place 
was  abandoned. 

Halkett,  and  other  Officers  in  the  regiment  are  mentioned  in 
"  A  proper  new  Ballad,  entitled  *  The  Granadeers  Rant,'  "  published 
in  1681,  one  verse  of  which  is  here  given  :  — 


There's  Hacket,  Hume  and  Hodge, 

Hey  boyes,  ho  boyes ; 
There's  Hacket,   Hume  and  Hodge,  ho ! 
There's  Hacket,  Hume  and  Hodge, 
In  Charles's  Fort  shall  lodge, 

Hey  the  brave  Granadeer§,  ho ! 


A  series  of  pictures  by  Stoop  at  Patshull,  in  possession  of  Lord 
Dartmouth,  depict  several  episodes  of  the  period  at  Tangier.  In  one, 
the  interesting  figures  of  four  pipers,  evidently  of  Dumbarton's,  are 
to  be  seen  playing  on  the  Mole  during  its  destruction,  prior  to  the 
embarkation  for  home. 

Dumbarton's  embarked  in  H.M.  ships  "  Henrietta,"  "  Oxford," 
"  Foresight,"  "Dragon,"  and  "  Grafton."  Again  interesting  details 
of  the  voyage  can  be  gleaned  from  the  logs.  The  Captain  of  the 
"  Henrietta  "  notes  how,  on  meeting  a  French  man-of-war.  he  "  fired 
two  shot  to  make  her  strike  sails." 

Halkett's  Diarv  is  of  great  regimental  interest  to  The  lioyal  Scots, 
being  a  detailed  account  by  one  of  its  earliest  Commanding  Officers, 
of  the  Regiment's  first  active  service  abroad,  since  its  final  return  to 
England  from  France  in  1678.  In  the  words  of  the  Regimental  Records 
"  Dumbarton's  came  to  Tangier  with  a  great  reputation,  and  when 
they  left  it,  that  reputation  was  greatly  enhanced." 


TANGIER — 1680.  3 

Halkctl  had  served  twelve  years  (i66H-«o)  in  Dumbarton's.  In 
1679  he  was  with  his  Company  at  Bandon.  In  1684  he  was  at 
Rochester  and  on  1  May  was  promoted  to  be  Lieut.-Colonel  and  com- 
manded Dumbarton's  at  the  Review  on  Putney  Heath  on  i  October 
(Nathan  Brooks),  in  which  month  he  died,  being  succeeded  in  command 
by  Sir  Archibald  Douglas. 

C.  Dalton  {The  Scots  Army.  1O61 — 168H.  1909.)  states  that 
Halkett  was  one  of  the  Halketts  of  F'ittirrane,  but  the  Court  of  the 
Lord  I. von  is  unable  to  confirm  this,  or  to  trace  Sir  James  in  any  way. 
Nor  is  it  clear  when  or  by  whom  he  was  knighted. 

H.M.McC. 

The  Diary. 


"  A  Short  and  true  account  of  the  most  remarkable  things  that  passed 
'*  during  the  late  wars  with  the  Moors  at  Tangier  in  the  year  1680, 
"and  Treaty  of  Peace  betwixt  the  Alcad  Domar  &  Lt.  Collonel 
"  Sackville.  By  Sr.  James  Halket  comander  of  16  Companies  and 
"  Major  of  the  E.  of  Dunbarton's  Regiment  there." 

"  Copied  from  a  MSS.  written  with  his  own  hand." 


"  There  has  been  so  many  different  relations  of  the  transactions 
at  Tangier  from  the  time  of  looseing  of  Charles  Fort  till  the  time  that 
the  King  of  Moroco  sent  his  embassadour  to  England,  what  be  lyes 
and  partialities  and  mistakes  that  it  is  hard  for  the  King  to  find  out 
the  truth,  I  designe  here  to  give  a  short  and  true  account  of  the  most 
remarkable  things  that  passed  during  the  late  wars  with  the  Moors  in 
the  year  1680  and  treatie  of  peace  betwixt  the  Alcad  Domar  and 
Lieutenant  Collonel  Sackville.^  I  having  had  the  honour  to  command 
16  Companies  of  the  Earle  of  Dumbarton's  Regiment  during  that  war 
ther*-^  in  the  station  of  Major;  and,  having  served  there  under  an  able 
Master  the  Earl  of  Tiviot^  at  the  time  of  his  war  there,  who  was  a  man 
of  an  extraordinary  genie  beside  his  long  service  and  experience  in 
the  wars  who  shewed  his  admirable  conduct  in  the  taking  in  and 
fortifying  of  that  ground  about  Tangier  with  redouts  and  Lines  in  so 

1  Captain  in  the  Guards.  Was  appointed  on  31  May,  1680,  to  be  Lieut.-Colonel  of  a 
Regiment  of  Foot,  called  "  The  King'.s  Battalion,"  composed  of  2  Companies  from  the  1st 
Regiment  of  Guards  and  1  Company  each  from  the  Coldstream  Guards,  the  Duke  of  York's 
Regiment  (the  "  Maritime  "  Regiment,  disbanded  in  1689),  and  the  Earl  of  Musgrave's 
Regiment  (now  The  Buffs),  then  formed  for  service  at  Tangier.  On  the  death  of  Sir  P. 
Fuirborne,  Sackville  became  Governor,  and  C.-in-C.  at  Tangier.  He  was  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  Colonel  in  1685;  and  to  that  of  Major-General  in  1688.  He  retired  from  the 
service  in   1688. 

2  Andrew  Rutherford.  Created  Lord  Rutherford  1661  and  appointed  Governor  of  Dun- 
kirk, 1662.  Created  Earl  of  Teviot  and  appointed  Governor  of  Tangier,  1663.  Killed  in 
f.ction  at  Tangier,  May,  1664.  Had  been  a  Lieut. -General  in  the  French  service,  and 
commanded  Rutherford's  Regiment,  1643,  which  was  incorporated  in  Dumbarton's  in  1660. 
Sec    •  The  Scot*  Peerage,"  VH.     p.  374,  and  '  D.N.B.' 


4  TANGIER — 1680. 

short  a  time  with  so  small  a  garrison  as  he  had  under  his  command 
in  spite  of  all  the  force  that  Galland^  could  bring  against  him  to  oppose 
his  proceedings  which  was  greater  than  any  that  has  been  before 
Tangier  since  his  time.  1  having  besides  since  that  time  served  in 
France  in  Dumbarton's  Regiment  the  space  of  12  years  in  Countreys 
where  the  war  was  most  active,  in  the  station  of  Captain  and  Major 

where  certainly  the  ( )^  of  the  war  is  at  the  greatest  perfection 

which  makes  me  presume  to  think  that  I  am  as  capable  to 
make  observations  and  to  give  a  good  account  of  the  pro- 
ceedings in  the  late  war  in  Tangier  which  may  be  readable, 
in  some  manner  to  the  King  in  his  concerns  there  and  that 
he  may  know  who  served  his  Majesty  there.  So  soon 
as  I  got  my  orders  at  Dubline  to  cause  our  12  companies  that  was 
ordered  with  me  for  Tangier  to  move  from  their  several  garrisons  to 
Cork  where  we  was  all  to  assemble  and  immediately  after  being 
ordered  with  all  the  diligence  imaginable  upon  my  peril  to  ship  the 
said  companies  a  board  the  King's  frigate  that  was  iying  ready  waiting 
for  us  in  the  harbour  of  Kinsail  to  receive  us,  which  was  taske  hard 
enoughe  for  one  officer  to  make  soldiers  march  the  King's  service  in 
Tangier,  requireing  such  haste  in  order  to  so  great  a  weight  that  we 
could  not  expect  to  have  the  time  gett  what  arrears  was  due  to  us, 
there  being  a  12  months  arrears  due  to  out  soldiers;  upon  my  receiving 
my  orders  at  Dubline  I  did  solicite  my  Lord  D.  of  Or-'  to  have  power 
to  take  what  men  that  was  good  of  those  5  companies  of  ours  that  did 
remaine  in  Ireland — which  his  Gr.  gave  me  his  order  for  the  doing  it 
for  the  making  up  compleat  the  12  ordered  for  Tangier  and  his  grace 
was  sensible  that  I  had  sufficiently  managed  my  business  with  care  and 
dilligence  in  every  thing  that  was  requisite  for  one  officer  to  doe  to 
hinder  desertion  of  our  soldiers  till  our  shipping;  on  the  dav  after  all 
our  companies  that  was  ordered  was  assembled  at  Cork  I  got  the  news 
from  Mr.  St.  Elies  of  that  cessation  of  arms  for  six  months  that  was 
agreed  on  immediately  after  the  lossing  of  Charles  fort  and  the  rest 
of  the  redouts  about  the  time  which  not  only  gave  us  time  to  receive 
our  arrears  that  was  due  to  us  but  likeways  t,  moneths  pay  of  advance 
for  all  the  20  companies  that  was  commanded  from  Ireland  to  Tangier 
which  I  carried  over  with  me  which  was  a  very  great  encouragement 
to  us  besides  the  news  that  came  immediately  after  that  the  King  had 
made  choice  of  my  Lo.  Osserie*  to  go  command  in  that  expedition 
which  was  extreamly  agreeable  to  us  to  serve  under  his  command.  I 
shipt  our  12  companies  the  day  and  sailed  the  next  day  and  I  landed 


1  Ab'd  Allah  Ghailan,  i.e.,  Gayland,  Guyland,  etc.     (Roiith). 

2  Blank  in  the  original.     ?  science. 

3  Duke  of  Ormonde,  Lord-Lieutenant  of  Ireland. 

4  Thomas  Butler,  Earl  of  Ossory,  elde.st  son  of  James,  1st  Duke  of  Ormonde.  Appointed 
Governor  of  Tangier,  but  died  in  London  in  Julv,  1680,  before  taking  up  the  appointment. 
See  'D.N.B.' 


TANGIER — 1680.  5 

at  Tangier  August,  I  was  the  first  that  brought  the  news  of  my  Lo. 
Osserie's  coining  to  be  a  general  which  was  very  agreeable  to  everyone. 
Upon  the  orders  Sir  Pames^  had  from  Court  to  cause  Mr.  Bekman'^ 
the  ingenier  make  a  designe  and  draught  of  a  fortification  that  he 
judged    most  necessare  and  convenient    for  the  situation    of  Tangier 
and  the  fortification  of  those  sand  hills  east  from  the  Town  towards 
old  Tangier  where  the  Moores  can  conveniently  make  their  batteries 
to  annoy  the  ships  in  the  Harbour,  after  the   Ingenier  had  finished 
his  designe  of  Fortification  to  be  sent  to  the  King  and  had  computed 
as  near  as  could  the  charge  and  expenies  that  the  work  would  cost 
which  was  great   and  vast,   Sr.   Fames  assembled   August    the    field 
officers,   Ad.  Herbert*   Mr.   Shers*  in  council  to  give  their  opinions 
whether  they  approved  of  that  designe  to   be  sent  to  the   King   or 
thought   it   absolutely  necessare  where  everie  one  did  agree   for  the 
designe  of  the  Harbour,  that  it  was  and  certainly  it  were  so  if  you 
look  upon  the  Moores  to  be  formidable  as  to  be  able  to  maintaine  ane 
Army  before  Tangier  with  canon  and  Amunition,  which  I  believe  they 
are  not  able  to  doe  for  many  good   reasons,   we  continued  with  the 
expectation  of  the  arrival  of   my  Lo.  of   Osserie  with  a  considerable 
body  of  horse  and  foot  till  we  got  the  news  of  his  sickness  and  soon 
after  his  death ;  during  the  rest  of  the  time  of  the  Cessation  of  Arms, 
Sr.  Fames  was  much  imployed  in  causing  make  conveniences  for  the 
troops  he  expected  from   England  and  the  troops  in  exercising  but  I 
believe  the  great  expence  and  charge  of  that  designe  of  fortification 
with  the  misfortunate  death  of  my  Lo.  Osserie  made  the  King  resolve 
to  endeavour  to  have  peace  upon  reasonable  terms  without  fortifying, 
upon  with   instructions  from  Court  Sir  Fames  sent  out  the  Moorish 
merchant  to  the  Alcad  Domar  to  offer  to  enter  into  terms  with  him 
for  a  settled  peace  the  Alcad  answered  that  he  remembered  that  in 
Gailand's  time  when  Tiviot  was  governour  in  his  absence  in  England 
the  Lieut,  governour  judgeing  that  the  time  of  the  cessation  would 
expire  before  the  governour  returned,  did  agree  with  Gailand  to  prolong 
the  cessation  for   six   months   longer,    the  governour   arriveing   soon 
after  and  finding  this  done  was  extreamely  displeased  with  the  Lieut, 
governour  being  he  had  no  instructions  for  it  and  he  haveing  orders 
from   the   King  to   go  immediately  about   the  secureing  of  as   much 
ground  as  he  judged  necessarie  for  the  use  of  the  Garrison  would  not 
stand  to  that  agreement  of  the  Lieut,  go.  with  Gailand,  did  immediately 
begin   his  working,  so  he  knew  that   Sir  Fames  was  but  Lieutenant 


1  Sir  Palmes  Fairbome,  who  had  served  at  Tangier  for  18  years.     See  '  D.N.B.' 

2  Martin  Beckman.     See  '  D.N.B.' 

3  Captain  (local  Vice-Admiral)  Arthur  Herbert,  R.N.  Appointed  to  command  the 
Station,  July,  1680.     Created  Earl  of  Torrington,    1689.     See   '  D.N.B.' 

4  Henry  Sheeres.  Engineer  in  chief  at  Tangier  (1669-83) ;  built  many  of  the  Forts  and 
the  Mo'e.  Spr  'D.NB.'  and  Prnreediiif/s  of  thr  HA.  Institution.  Vol.  xix.  p.  429.  Sone 
MSS.  notes  entitled  "  Journal  of  Proceedings,"  dated  September-October,  1680,  by  Sheeres. 
exist  in  the  Public  Record  Office,  CO.  279/26. 


6  TANGIER — 1680. 

governour  and  that  he  was  informed  that  there  was  a  governour 
coming  over,  so  he  would  not  treat  with  him  fearing  to  be  served  in 
the  same  manner,  the  lime  of  the  cessation  of  arms  being  short.  Sir 
Fames  assembled  a  council  of  war  August  of  the  field  officers  and  all 
the  Captains  to  have  their  opinion  whether  they  thought  it  convenient 
or  fitting  to  undertake  anything  without  the  Town  immediately  after 
the  expireing  of  the  cessation  or  to  wait  for  the  horse  from  England 
or  the  horse  that  was  promised  from  Spain  after  that  several  had 
reasoned  upon  the  business  and  gave  their  t)pinions  pro  and  con., 
Lieut.-Collonel  vSakvil's  opinion  was  that  it  would  be  a  foolish  and 
dangerous  thing  to  undertake  anything  without  the  Town  without 
horse  against  ane  enemy  that  he  believes  was  mighty  and  powerful 
without  especially  expecting  horse  and  foot  from  England  and  knowing 
the  many  misfortunes  that  had  alreadie  befallen  that  garrison  with 
rash  undertakings. 

My  opinion  was  that  it  was  fitting  to  undertake  some  thing  with 
out  the  Town  so  soon  as  peace  expired  without  waiting  more  force 
considering  what  a  powerful  garrison  was  already  in  Tangier 
consisting  of  about  3,oco  foot  and  a  troop  of  30  horse  so  well  com- 
posed of  so  many  good  officers  and  soldiers  which  the  like  was  never 
in  Tangier  and  certainly  it  could  not  but  plainly  and  clearly  appear 
to  any  man  of  sense  that  had  seen  anything  of  war  that  there  could 
have  been  done  several  things  with  out  Town,  as  the  making  of  some 
places  of  arms  before  Katrina  gate  and  so  gone  on  gradually  which 
certainly  could  have  been  done  without  exposeing  the  foot  to  any 
danger  or  the  fearing  considerable  loss  for  the  Moores  could  not 
nor  durst  not  undertake  the  hindering  us  let  their  number  have  been 
what  it  will  so  near  the  Town  for  there  was  no  need  of  horse  in  the 
beginning  and  it  was  very  uncertain  when  those  troops  that  was 
expected  from  England  should  come  or  whether  they  would  come  at 
all,  the  resolutions  did  so  change  in  England  concerning  Tangier,  now 
if  there  had  corned  none  and  if  he  had  waited  for  them  it  would  have 
made  those  that  knew  not  the  Moores  believe  them  to  be  so  mighty 
a  people  that  nothing  could  be  undertaken  against  them  without  a 
considerable  army  :  in  the  contrair  if  we  went  out  and  made  those 
places  of  arms  which  certainly  can  be  done  without  risk  it  would  be 
a  great  encouragement  to  what  troops  came  afterwards.  After  all  the 
reasonings  it  was  put  to  the  vote  whether  we  should  go  out,  it  was 
carryed  be  the  major  votes  that  we  should  go  out,  notwithstanding 
Sir  Fames  resolved  to  undertake  nothing  without,  till  he  got  more 
horse,  the  next  day  Ad.  Her.  sailed  with  the  fleet  that  was  before 
Tangier  to  Gibraltar  to  bring  over  those  Spanish  horse  that  was 
promised,  when  he  came  there  w^as  no  news,  of  those  vSpaiiish  horse  : 
the  Ad.  returned  immediately  to  Tangier  again,  but  those  ships  with 
the  3  troops  of  English  horse  appeared  from  England  which  came  in 
good  time  and  was  landed  as  soon  as  possible  could,  their  horse  in  a 
pretty  good  condition  after  so  long  a  voyage;  the  time  of  peace  being 


TANGIER — 1680.  7 

within  a  few  days  of  expireing  Sir  Panics,  finding  that  it  was  not 
dear  what  day  the  peace  ended,  being  iheir  reckoning  and  ours 
differed,  sent  out  to  know  of  the  Ak'ad  the  day ;  the  Alcad  answered 
he  would  let  him  know  when  it  did,  within  two  days  the  Alcad  sent 
Harnett^  the  Moore  that  had  served  in  England  in  the  Duke's  troop 
and  told  that  the  time  of  the  peace  was  out  and  that  the  nixt  day  he 
would  to  wars. 

Ad.  Her.  landed  about  500  of  the  seamen,  he  having  orders  to 
attend  with  the  fleet  during  the  war,  composed  of  so  many  Companies 
with  a  company  of  Granadiers,  with  the  compleat  number  of  officers 
to  each  company,  of  the  sea-officer,  and  volunteers  he  made  choice  of 
Captain  George  Barthell  who  formerly  had  been  a  Captain  in  my 
Lord  Dumbarton's  Regiment,  to  command  that  battalion  of  seamen 
in  quality  of  Major  under  him ;  the  3  troops  of  English  horse  newly 
landed  had  several  days  after  the  expireing  of  the  peace  to  refresh  their 
horses  and  in  exerciseing  in  order  for  the  design  of  action  without, 
after  Sir  Fames  had  disposed  every  thing  in  the  best  order  for  the 
designe  of  working  without,  in  causing  what  pallisads  and  instruments 
for  working  the  Ingenier  judged  necessar  for  that  design  of  work 
without  to  the  Spur  without  Katrina  gate  the  night  before  we  went 
out  Sir  Fames  sent  for  me  to  the  Castle  where  I  found  him  in  his 
closet  after  talking  of  the  design  of  the  work  he  intended  next  day  to 
begin  without,  and  of  the  number  of  troops  he  intended  to  sustain 
that  work  wMth,  he  desired  me  to  tell  him  what  way  1  judged  to  the 
best  advantage  to  dispose  the  troops  in  Battle  for  the  sustaining  the 
workmen  :  after  I  gave  him  my  opinion  to  the  best  of  my  under- 
standing, he  told  he  thought  my  way  was  well,  but  not  altogether  in 
form,  for  he  designed  the  troops  all  in  one  line,  with  the  4  troops  of 
horse  upon  the  wings,  for  he  said  there  was  some  critick  that  censured 
him  in  all  things,  meaning  Sakvill  and  Talmach^  they  believing  to 
understand  more  of  form  than  he.  I  told  him  everyone  that  com- 
manded did  dispose  their  troops  in  battle  to  the  best  advantage 
according  to  the  situation  of  the  field  of  battle  they  were  on,  and  to 
the  designe  they  had  in  hand.  After  he  had  taken  my  advice  in  ' 
several  things  I  left  him  and  went  about  the  disposing  things  for  the 
next  days  work. 

Tt  being  the  18th  of  vSeptember  we  marched  out  with  the  whole 
force  of  the  garrison,  leaving  only  the  ordinar  guards  within,  the  4 
troops  of  horse  first  then  the  detachment  of  300  men  designed  to  be  our 


1  Hamet,  a  renegade  Moor,  who  had  been  sent  to  Europe  and  educated,  but  who,  on  his 
return,  deserted  and  placed  his  knowledge  and  skill  at  the  service  of  the  Alcade.  (liouth. 
p.    168.) 

2  Captain  Thomas  Tollemache,  who  commanded  the  Coldstream  Company  in  the  "  King's 
Battalion,"  under  Sackviilo.  Subsequently  a  Lieut.-General,  and  Colonel  of  the  5th  Foot, 
See  'P.N.B.' 


8  TANGIER — 1680. 

advanced  men  commanded  by  Lieut.  Collonell  Talmash,  that  honour 
was  put  upon  him  I  believe  upon  the  account  of  his  quality  and  being 
a  man  of  Interest  at  Court  in  prejudice  of  Captain  Bovves^  that  was  the 
older  Captain,  and  his  tour  the  troops  was  imbattelled  as  it  was 
designed  all  in  one  line  :  our  Right  hand  being  co\ered  he  the  old  line 
of  communication  betwixt  the  Town  and  Polfort,^  and  our  left  be 
(Nord^  Redout)  which  was  still  in  being  then,  the  discoveries*  being 
made  as  far  out  as  was  judged  necessare,  and  [  ]^  in  the  most 

fitting  places,  some  little  fireing  being  made  at  our  discoveries  be 
some  few  scattring  Moores,  not  yet  any  body  of  men  appearing  nor 
any  guard  upon  that  hand  :  then  Lieut.  Collonel  Talmash  with  his 
300  men  was  commanded  to  post  himself  about  the  mines  of  PoUfort, 
then  an  ingeneer  went  about  the  viewing  of  the  ground  about  Polfort 
after  he  resolved  upon  the  design  of  the  work,  it  was  resolved  to  cause 
word^  a  Battalion  at  time  so  many  hours  :  the  Battalion  of  seamen 
being  posted  on  the  east  of  the  Town,  the  rest  standing  to  their  arms 
and  it  being  necessare  to  advance  fire  men''  upon  all  hands  of  Polfort 
to  keep  the  enemy  off  and  in  skirmish  in  favour  of  our  workmen;  the 
detachments  being  made  was  posted  at  three  several  places  some 
shelter  being  made  in  haste  for  the  men,  the  Moores  about  this  time 
appeared  with  several  colloures  from  the  bottom  near  Mes  River® 
where  they  camped,  I  judge  about  the  number  of  6  or  700  men  all 
foot  very  few  horse  [  J^  that  they  came  very  scatteredly  fearing 

our  Cannon  and  posted  themselves  at  the  ruines  of  James  Fort  and  at 
Anne  Fort  and  upon  the  auld  lane  betwixt  the  two  forts  :  the  advanced 
men  that  keeped  our  advanced  posts  in  skirmish  all  the  day  over, 
where  we  had  some  few  men  killed  and  wounded.  I  am  very  confident 
at  this  time  the  Moores  could  not  make  a  1,000  men  before  the 
Town  :  we  continued  all  that  day  till  7  a  clock  at  night  in  working 
about  Polfort  and  in  relieving  our  workmen  and  the  advanced  posts 
from  time  to  time  till  that  pallisad  about  the  ruins — of  the  fort  was  done, 
and  a  breastwork  within  the  pallisad,  and  the  place  put  as  the  best 
posture  of  defence  :  for  the  night  following  Lieut.  Coll.  Sak.  with  the 
Battalion  of  guards  took  possession  of  the  place  to  make  guard  that 
night  there  being  a  detachment  of  300  men  of  reserve  left  in  the  place 
of  arms  before  Katrina  gate;  we  then  retired  tnir  advanced  and  work 
men  and  marched  into  Town,  we  having  that  day's  work  much  easier 
than  we  imagined. 


1  George  B.  of  the  Ist  Regiment  of  Foot  Guards,  now  commanding  a  Company  in  the 

"  Kini?'s   Battalion,"   at   Tangier. 

2  Pole  Fort. 

3  "  Nord  Redoubt  "  has  been   insoited   in   the  original  MSS.     It  should  be  Norwood,   so 
called  after  Colonel  Henry  Norv.ood,  who  had  served  at  Tangier  earlier. 

*  Reconnaissances.  5  Blank  in  original.  6  ?  work. 

7  Musketeers,   as  distinct   from  pike-men. 

8  Mes  River  has  been  inserted  in  the  o/iginal :    it  i*  meant  for  Jews  River. 


TANf.lKK       l6So.  9 

The  next  day  we  marclied  out  the  same  number  of  men  and  keeped 
the  same  method  we  did  the  day  before,  things  passed  much  about  the 
same  manner  it  did  the  day  before;  1  relieved  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakvile 
with  our  first  battalion  and  200  men  of  our  second,  then  the  troops 
retired  to  Town,  the  3rd  day  we  marched  out  as  we  did  before  after 
the  [  ]^  and  our  advanced  men  posted,  Capt.  Hoges^  our  Capt. 

our  company  of  Granadeers,  desired  Sir  Fames  liberty  to  ga  to  our 
advanced  post  upon  the  line  betwixt  Monmouth  and  James  Fort  with 
his  companv  of  granadeers  to  skirmish,  Sir  Fames  after  his  earnest 
intreatie  condescended  to  it,  having  recommended  it  to  him  not  to 
engage  himself  further  than  the  advanced  post.  Hoges  told  me  of 
thing,  marched  with  his  company  his  drums  beatting,^  the  Moores 
seeing  this  expected  something  extraordihar,  put  them  all  to  their 
arms  about  the  Town  and  drew  them  all  to  that  hand;  Hogs  having 
advanced  about  a  100  yards  before  our  advanced  post  to  a  little  trench 
that  the  enemy  possest,  and  having  beat  them  out  that  was  there,  and 
taken  possession  of  the  trench,  the  Moores  upon  all  hands  drew 
together  about  James  Fort,  advanced  with  about  five  or  six  hundred 
men  where  they  entered  into  skirmish  with  Hogs,  he  finding  it  too 
bote  for  him,  being  no  equality  of  number,  was  forced  to  retire  some- 
what precipitantly  to  our  advanced  post  again,  with  the  loss  of  three 
men  and  of  his  companv  and  several  wounded;  I  being  with  Sir  Fames 
at  that  time  about  some  other  concerns  and  hearing  the  skirmish  was 
bote  at  that  post,  I  galloped  to  the  post,  our  company  of  granadeers 
being  retireing  at  that  same  time  and  the  Moores  follow  ing  after,  which 
astonished  our  men  posted  there  a  little,  so  that  they  were  reeling,  I 
having  sent  to  cause  advance  Capt.  Lauriston  with  his  troop  of  horse 
that  was  near,  a  purpose  to  sustain  our  advanced  men,  which  gave 
again  assurance  to  our  foot,  so  that  they  continued  the  skirmish  hotely 
for  some  time,  where  we  had  several  men  killed  and  wounded,  the 
Moores  being  more  exposed  to  our  fire  than  we  to  their  thought  it 
convenient  to  retire,  but  advanced  with  collours  all  round  nearer  an 
advanced  post,  which  made  the  skirmishing  hoter  than  formerly  all 
the  rest  of  the  day  at  those  posts ;  when  the  time  drew  near  that  we 
usually  retired  to  Town,  I  told  Sir  Fames  that  I  believed  that  they 
designed  to  undertake  something  against  us  upon  our  retiring  our 
advanced  post,  they  having  continued  strong  about  James  Fort  since 
the  skirmish  in  the  morning,  he  told  me  he  had  the  same  thoughts, 

^  Blank    in  original. 

2  Robert  Hodges.  Captain-Lieutenant  in  Sir  John  Talbot's  Dragoons,  5  October,  1678 
("  Dalton  ").  Captain  in  Dumbarton's  in  April,  1679.  ("  Or.iionde  "  papers).  Served  at 
Tangier,  as  Caj)tain  of  the  Grenadier  Company.  Eventually  Lieut.  Colonel,  and  then 
Colonel  of  Colonel  Archibald  Douglas's  Regiment  (16th)  of  Foot,  at  the  head  of  which  he 
was  killed  at  Steenkirk,  1692.  Ross,  in  his  Taiujcrs  Jtescue,  gives  a  personal  description 
of  Cuptain  Hodges'  valour  and   activity. 

3  No  doubt  the  well-known  tune  of  "  Dumbarton's  Drums,"  played  to  this  day  by  The 
Royal  Scots;  also  known  as  "  The  Scots  March,"  and  well-known  on  the  battlefields  of 
Europe  during  the  30  Years'  War.  Heard  by  Pepys  at  Rochester  in  1667  and  noted  by  him 
as  still  being  played  in  1680.     (Records  of  "  The  Boyal  Scots.") 


lO  TANGIER — 1680. 

I  said  that  there  was  at  the  advanced  post  and  on  the  line  betwixt  the 
post  and  Monmouth  fort  above  300  men,  what  of  ours  and  other 
detachments,  that  was  made  to  sustain  our  advanced  post,  and  that 
our  Captain  that  commanded  our  advance  was  a  young  man  that  never 
before  had  seen  action,  Captain  Forbes,^  and  prayed  him  to  give  me 
leave  to  undertake  the  management  of  the  retreat,  he  was  pleased  I 
made  the  offer,  and  ordered  me  to  go  about  the  doing  it  and  to  take 
what  men  of  ours  I  judged  necessare  for  the  doing  it,  there  was  200 
fire-men  of  our  second  battalion,  commanded  be  Captain  Londie'^  and 
Captain  Moncriefe,"^  that  had  been  on  the  guard  with  me  the  night 
before  at  Polfort,  that  had  continued  within  the  pallisads  all  the  day 
without  skirmishing  or  working :  I  made  choice  of  them  for  the 
business  and  marched  them  up  to  a  convenient  place  near  Monmouth 
Fort,  where  they  could  not  be  seen  be  the  enemy,  and  ordered  them 
to  continue  there  in  readyness,  without  showing  tiiemselves,  till  the 
rear  of  our  advanced  men  came  their  length,  and  if  the  Moores 
followed,  I  would  be  with  them  in  time  tt)  do  with  them  as  1  judged 
convenient  :  I  then  went  up  to  our  advanced  post  I  caused  retire  some 
rest  of  aniunition  that  was  there,  I  then  endeavoured  to  make  our  men 
retire  a  file  or  two  at  a  time  so  that  the  Moores  might  not  perceive, 
but  they  very  well  observed  our  motions,  perceived  we  intended  to 
retire,  they  advanced  with  their  collours  from  the  mines  of  James  fort 
and  from  all  the  places  on  that  hand  :  I  put  our  best  men  on  our  rear 
and  retired  homewards,  the  Moores  was  very  soon  with  us  on  our 
rear,  I  judge  the  number  of  500  men  within  and  without  that  old  line 
that  runes  from  James  fort  to  Monmouth  fort,  then  they  began  to 
bestow  their  fire  amongst  us  and  keeped  close  on  our  reer  till  we  came 
the  length  of  our  2co  men  commanded  be  Captains  Londie  and 
Moncrieff,  so  soon  as  our  rear  past  them,  I  run  and  caused  then) 
advance  and  made  a  fresh  discharge  on  those  Moores  that  was  on  the 
inside  of  the  line,  they  not  expecting  to  find  fresh  men  so  near  them, 
they  passed  all  of  them  very  precipitantly  to  the  outside  of  the  line, 
I  made  our  men  to  the  right  hand  about,  and  marched  down  the  hill 
till  we  was  quite  out  of  sight  of  the  enemy;  upon  this  all  the  Moores 
believed  we  was  running,  came  precipitantly  after  us  our  men  having 


1  Francis  Forbes,  a  young  Captain  in  Dumbarton's,  who  died  of  wounds  received  in 
action   on  24  October,   1680. 

2  Robert  Lundy,  a  Captain  in  Dumbarton's  in  April,  1679.  ("  Ormonde  "  Papers). 
Wounded  27.10.1680.  Lieut. -Colonel  of  Colonel  Mountjoy's  Regiment  in  Ireland.  Colonel 
of  a  Regiment  of  Foot  in  Ireland  which  was  never  formed.  Governor  of  liondonderry. 
Adjutant-General    to    the    Portuguese    Army.      Taken    prisoner    in    Spain    and    exchanged. 

(Daltoii). 

3  James  Moncrieff.  Youngest  son  of  Sir  John  Moncrieff,  Bart.,  whom  he  succeeded  as 
4th  Bart.  Captain  in  Dumbarton's  in  April,  1679.  ("  Ormonde "  papers).  Wounded  14 
May,  1680.  Served  at  Sedgemoor,  wounded.  Awarded  gratuity  of  £40.  Lieut. -Colonel 
of  Sir  Wm.  Beveridge's  Regiment  (16th  Foot),  1690.  Colonel,  as  Sir  James,  of  a  newly- 
raised  Regiment  in  Scotland,  afterwards  known  as  Colonel  George  Hamilton's  Regiment, 
1693.     (Dalton). 


TANCIKU—  1680.  I  1 

be  that  time  charged^  again,  I  made  our  men  face  about  again,  being 
very  near  one  and  other,  where  we  continued  in  skirmish  a  long  half 
hour  against  all  that  had  followed  us,  we  having  some  advantage  of 
the  ground  be  some  old  lines  and  places  that  gave  us  some  covert 
against  their  lire,  we  having  them  still  exposed  with  full  bodie  to  our 
fire,  where  certainly  we  killed  many  of  their  men,  the  Moores  having 
spent  their  Amunition,  they  continued  for  some  time  in  throwing  of 
great  stones  amongst  us,  but  they  iinding  our  fire  too  sharp  for  them, 
they  found  it  convenient  to  retire,  so  we  ended  that  days  work  very 
well  and  retired  in  Town  with  the  troops. 

The  night  after,  and  the  next  day  there  fell  a  great  deall  of  rain, 
so  we  did  not  move  out  a  Town  but  made  some  detachments  for  the 
working  within  that  pallisad  about  the  new  work,  and  all  the  carpenters 
being  imployed  in  makeing  up  of  Paul's  fort  to  cover  the  men  within 
from  that  time  to  the  [  ]^  we  continued  without  moveing  out  o 

Town,  but  with  the  relief  to  Polfort  every  day,  and  the  detachments 
for  working  after  the  fort  was  put  into  some  posture  of  defence,  and 
having  raised  a  battrie  for  three  pieces  of  Cannon  within,  and  a  work 
that  was  Cannon  proofe  ther,  we  began  a  new  line  of  communication 
straight  from  Katrina  gate  to  the  fort,  the  report  having  past  in  the 
countrey  of  our  being  Master  of  that  place  again,  and  they  expecting 
that  we  should  a  proceeded  in  undertaking  more,  brought  all  the  force, 
I  judge  they  could  well  send  or  maintain,  against  us,  the  weather  then 
growing  unconstant,  which  hindered  us  to  move  out  as  we  did  the 
first  3  dayes,  the  Moores  who  made  better  use  of  their  time  and  finding 
us  grow  a  little  slack  in  our  business,  they  took  possession  of  that 
ground  about  Monmouth  fort  where  they  made  a  fashion  of  places  of 
arms  and  carryed  on  a  trench  from  that  to  the  old  place,  made  by 
Tiviot  about  a  200  yards  before  the  fort,  and  round  all  upon  the  right 
hand  of  the  fort  which  was  a  good  as  a  line  of  countervalation  to  them. 
Sir  Fames  upon  the  instructions  he  had  to  endeavour  to  have  peace 
upon  reasonable  terms,  it  was  resolved  in  council  of  war  that  the 
governour  should  make  an  offer  to  enter  into  a  treatie  of  peace  with 
them,  and  to  assure  them  there  was  no  other  governour  to  come  to 
Tangier,  and  that  he  had  full  power  to  make  a  peace  with  them,  for 
as  long  time  as  he  thought  fit,  which  they  accepted,  vSir  Fames  made 
choice  of  Lieut.  Coll.  Tollmach  to  go  to  them  with  his  instructions, 
and  the  articles  proposed,  so  the  next  day,  the  flags  of  truce  being 
put  up  on  several  places,  he  went  out  to  near  old  Tangier,  where  the 
Alcad  of  Titune'  appointed  him,  our  chief  articles  was  to  have  the 
whole  ground  within  Charles  Fort  and  all  our  redouts  for  the  use  of 
the  garrison,  and  to  build  within  that  pallisad  at  Folfort,  which  we 
had  rendered  ourselves  Masters  of  with  our  arms  and  with  the  loss  of 


1  Having  charged  their  musquets  again ;    i.e.,  re-loaded. 

2  Blank  in  original.  3  Tetuan. 


12  TANdlKR — 1680. 

SO  much  of  our  blood,  with  several  others.  Talmash  being  with  them 
till  the  evening,  returned;  he  judged  they  might  condescend  to  every- 
thing, except  to  the  building  within  the  pallisad  :  the  next  morning  hv 
went  out  and  was  with  them  till  noone,  they  finding  our  (General 
stuck  to  the  building  within  the  pallisad,  they  fell  into  a  passion  and 
abused  the  Jonas,^  the  interpreter,  sadly,  and  said  so  long  as  there 
was  a  Moore,  in  Barbary  they  would  not  condescend  to  it;  and  told 
Lieut.  Collonell  Talmach  sharply  to  return,  for  they  would  treat  no 
more  with  us,  and  to  cause  take  down  the  fiaggs  of  truce,  for  they 
would  immediately  enter  into  war  again  :  upon  Talmach  return  with 
their  answer,  and  the  flaggs  of  truce  being  taken  down,  we  fell 
immediately  to  bote  fireing  and  lasted  all, the  rest  of  the  day:  that 
same  night  they  began  a  trench  from  the  old  place  of  arms,  before 
the  fort,  which  advanced  towards  the  pallisads  on  the  right  hand  of 
the  fort :  two  days  after,  they  brought  a  piece  of  Cannon  to  the  place 
of  arms  before  the  fort,  and  made  ane  embrasor  through  the  parapit, 
this  coolled  the  courage  of  severalls.  for  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakvile  having 
hopes  of  peace  in  that  treatie,  being  disappointed,  and  Talmash  and 
Major  Bomlie  being  that  nighl  at  supper  in  a  tavern,  fell  a  exclaiming 
against  the  proceedings  during  the  war,  with  great  heat  and  passion, 
and  said  he  had  always  been  against  the  undertakings  of  anything 
without  that  it  was  foolishly  and  rashly  begun,  and  would  certainly 
have  a  worse  conclusion  with  reflecting  upon  Sir  Fames  conduct 
highly  :  this  came  to  Sir  Fames  ears,  and  questioning  him  on  it,  he 
told  Sir  Fames  that  he  had  said  nothing  but  what  he  would  justify, 
and  that  if  the  King  would  make  him  governor  he  would  not  stay  in 
Tangier,  and  it  is  well  known  during  all  the  time  of  his  being  there 
that  it  was  frequently  his  subject,  in  all  places  to  exclaim  against  the 
place,  that  it  could  never  be  made  steadable  to  the  King  in  no  fashion, 
although  there  is  several  judicious  men,  that  understands  Tangier 
well,  thinks  that  the  charge  and  expence  the  King  is  at  there  might 
be  better  imployed  in  England,  yet  it  was  very  unreasonable  in  him, 
who  had  the  honour  to  command  a  battalion  of  guards,  who  should 
have  given  good  example  at  that  conjuncture,  he  and  Talmach,  their 
opinions  running  always  together,  became  so  uneasie  to  the  governour 
that  he  did  not  know  what  to  doe  with  them,  but  he  judgeing  them 
men  that  was  supported  w  ith  great  interest  at  Court,  and  he  in  hopes 
to  hqve  the  Commission  to  be  governour,  suffered  patiently  of  them. 
Some  few  days  later  Sir  Jone  Borie^  passing  with  the  Malligo  fleet 
for  England  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakville  and  Talmash  resolved,  and  disposed 
all  their  affairs,  to  goe  aboard  with  Sir  Jone  Borie  for  England,  and 
told  they  would  not  stay  to  see  the  tragicall  conclusion  of  that  war. 
Sir  Fames  finding  them  in  earnest,  sent  and  told  them,  if  they  con- 
tinued longer  their  resolution,  he  would  make  them  answer  a  council 
of  war  which  stoped  them.     I  cannot  think  with  what  a  countenance 

1  Jonas,  a  renegade  who  had  once  been  "  Sexton's  boy  at  Tangier."     (Routh.    p.  168.) 

2  Admiral  Sir  John  Berry.     See  '  D.N.B,' 


TANGIER — 1680.  13 

they  would  a  looked  at  Court.  The  news  come  from  Triff^  that  the 
two  Spanish  troops  that  was  promised  was  there,  waiting  for  us  if  we 
had  need  of  them,  upon  which  Sir  Pames  called  a  Council  of  war  of 
the  field  officers  to  have  their  opinions,  Admiral  Herbert  did  promote 
extreamely  for  sending  for  them,  Mr.  Shears  was  much  against  it 
with  many  arguments,  but  it  was  carryed  that  they  should  be  sent 
for,  and  the  ships  ordered  to  sail  and  brought  them  good  men  well 
mounted  and  well  commanded  near  the  number  of  200,  the  Moores 
having  at  this  time  advanced  their  trenches  within  30  yards  of  the 
pallisad  of  the   new   work,    and   fearing   they  would   [  ]^,   beside 

they  brought  a  trench  upon  the  right  hand  of  the  fort  round  and  within 
noro'd^  redout,  with  a  designe  to  cut  off  the  communication  between 
the  fort  and  the  Town,  it  being  now  time  to  think  upon  what  might 
be  done  for  the  defence  of  the  place,  the  most  part  thinking  it  in  a 
dangerous  condition,  the  council  of  war  was  called  of  the  field  officers, 
being  assembled.  Sir  Pames  told  it  was  to  deliberat  what  was  most 
fitting  to  be  done  for  the  defence  of  the  place,  whether  or  not  ane 
outfall,  Sakvile  and  Talmash  with  long  harrangues  and  with  strong 
arguments,  as  they  believed,  was  against  the  outfall,  several  thinking 
it  dangerous  they  believing  the  Moores  armie  strong;  1  told  I  did  not 
believe  the  Moores  was  strong  without,  for  several  reasons  and 
although  they  were  both  strong  and  formidable,  my  opinion  was  that 
it  was  very  proper  and  necessare  to  undertake  ane  outfall,  being  their 
guards  never  appeard  strong  at  their  posts,  and  that  the  order  of  the 
outfall  might  be  so  disposed  that  we  needed  not  risk  too  much  the 
troops,  in  case  the  enemie  come  strong  against  us,  and  could  not 
effectuate  our  designe  in  filling  up  their  advanced  trenches,  and  this 
1  judged  very  necessare  to  be  done  in  form  for  the  defence  of  a  place 
that  had  cost  us  so  much  blood  in  gaining,  and  that  nothing  might 
reflect  upon  us,  then  it  was  put  to  the  vote,  it  was  carried  to  make  an 
outfall,  but  Sir  Pames  did  not  resolve  on  the  day  nor  on  the  number 
of  troops.  The  next  morning  being  Sunday  Sir  Pames  drew  out  a 
detachment  of  200  foot  to  an  old  work  of  the  [  ]'^  towards  Charles 

fort  to  make  them  cast  up  a  breastwork  there,  there  was  a  Spanish 
Captain  and  about  60  horsemen  that  was  ordered  to  sustain  the  foot, 
Sir  Pames  in  moveing  about  with  Major  Bekeman  in  ordering  what 
should  be  done,  vSir  Pames  received  a  shote  in  the  body  at  a  great 
distance  and  fell  from  his  horse  :  he  being  brought  in,  and  the  news 
of  his  being  killed,  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakvile  and  I  went  to  the  Castle  and 
found  him  in  that  condition  that  we  judged  he  could  not  live  long; 
Lieut.  Coll.  Sakevile  falling  to  command  in  chiefe,  it  was  fitting  to 
move   about    to  order   what  was   necessare   without,    he    and   I    went 


1  Tarifa.  2  An    illegible   word  has  been    inserted  here  in    the   original. 

3  Norwood.  4  "  Tivitt  "  has  been  inserted  in  original,  i.e.,  Teviot. 


14  •         V  TANGIER — 1680. 

immediately  to  Peterburie  Tower,  to  view  the  Moores  and  to  see  what 
effects  it  had,  our  men  drawing  out  towards  Charles  fort,  Major 
Bekeman  having  put  those  200  men  to  work,  this  gave  great  jealousie 
to  the  Moores  that  we  intended  to  Charles  fort  again ;  this  certainly 
brought  all  the  force  they  had  to  that  hand  and  to  those  trenches  that 
cut  off  the  communication  betwixt  the  fort  and  the  Castle;  so  that 
work  had  that  good  effects,  that  it  gave  us  a  full  sight  of  all  the  force 
they  had,  which  I  judge  was  betwixt  2  and  3,000  men ;  this  gave  me 
the  great  assurance  imaginable  that  we  might  done  something  con- 
siderable against  them  in  our  outfall,  the  Moores,  seeing  our  men 
continued  the  working  notwithstanding  they  had  brought  all  their 
force  to  that  hand,  they  advanced  most  boldly  out  oi  the  trenches  with 
the  most  of  their  force  exposed  to  our  Cannon  and  small  shote,  towards 
our  workmen  this  put  our  men  to  their  arms  and  the  Spanish  Captain 
with  his  60  horsemen  seeing  them  advancing  scatteredly  and  making 
constant  fire  he  charged  them  most  bravely  home  and  beat  them  into 
their  trenches  again,  he  having  lost  several  of  his  men  and  horse,  he 
finding  their  fire  bote  on  him  retired,  some  of  his  men  coming  off 
precipitantly,  our  200  men  commanded  be  Captain  Colgraffe,  that 
before  was  at  work  having  advanced  to  sustain  the  Spanish  horse, 
upon  the  horse  retiring,  they  most  cowardly  and  basely  run  and  left 
their  officer,  son^e  few  staying  with  the  Captain  and  the  rest  of  the 
officers  that  came  off  safely,  this  was  a  siiameful  thing  to  see  our  foot 
misbehave  at  the  rate  when  the  vSpaniard  had  done  so  well.  The  next 
day  soon  in  the  morning  I  going  to  Polfort,  I  met  Mr.  Bekeman  he 
told  me  that  their  trench  from  the  old  place  of  arms  was  advanced 
within  20  yards  of  the  pallisad  of  the  fort,  and  he  said  if  we  did  not 
resolve  very  soon  to  make  the  outfall  he  would  not  set  his  foot  again 
within  the  fort,  for  he  judged  they  would  advance  again.  I  told  him 
I  had  said  all  I  could  for  the  undertaking  the  outfall  and  I  prayed  him 
to  speak  again  to  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakville.  Upon  Mr.  Bekeman's 
speaking  to  him  he  ordered  a  council  of  war  to  assemble  of  the  field 
officers  at  Admiral's  house;  being  assembled,  he  said  he  had  been 
alwayes  against  the  undertaking  without,  and  especially  that  outfall 
for  the  reasons  he  had  given,  and  now,  the  governour  being  past 
recoverie,  he  brought  us  together  again  to  have  an  opinion  about  it. 
I  told  him  that  the  outfall  was  resolved  on  before  Sir  Pames  was 
wounded,  and  it  would  be  a  shameful  thing  for  us  to  go  back  with  it 
now,  for  the  loss  of  one  man  :  the  Admiral  and  Major  Bekeman  being 
for  it,  with  many  good  arguments,  it  was  resolved  on  to  be  made,  on 
Wednesday  morning  nixt,  with  all  the  force  of  the  garrison,  leaving 
only  the  ordinary  guards  within  :  the  next  morning  I  went  out  betimes 
to  the  ground  on  the  left  hand  of  Polfort,  where  we  designed  to  embattle 
the  troops;  after  I  had  considered  how  to  proceed  against  the  enemy, 
with  the  best  of  my  understanding,  I  went  and  found  Lieut.  Coll. 
vSakvile,  and  I  prayed  him  to  goe  out  to  the  rampart  with  me  to  shew 
him  the  designe  I   had  in  my  head  :    after  he  understood  the  thing, 


TANGIER — 1680.  15 

he  approved  of  it,  and  prayed  me  to  meet  him  immediately  after  dinner 
to  resolve  upon  everything  that  was  necessare  for  the  order  of  the 
thing,  that  the  orders  might  be  distribute  to  the  Commandants  of  the 
batallions  at  night  after  we  had  resolved  on  everything  necessare  for 
the  designe  and  all  things  being  disposed  to  the  best  advantage,  that 
we  judged  for  the  next  mornings  work  :  Being  assembled  we  marched 
out  the  nixt  morning  be  3  a  clock  with  the  7  troops  of  horse  to  the 
place  of  arms  before  Katrina  gate,  where  the  troops  of  horse  was 
ordered  to  halt,  while  the  foot  was  a  fileing  out  at  an  avenue  at  the 
foot  of  the  line  of  communication  to  the  fort,  after  our  six  battalions 
was  near  embattelled  close  on  the  left  hand  of  the  line,  two  battalions 
a  front,  our  7  troops  being  then  drawn  out  and  embattled  on  the  left 
hand  of  the  foot,  being  sufficiently  covered  on  the  right  hand  be  the 
line  and  fort,  we  being  so  disposed  in  battle,  as  we  judged  most  con- 
venient for  the  designe  in  hand,  and  the  situation  of  the  ground,  with 
a  detachment  of  50  men.  Captain  and  Lieutenant,  from  each  battalion, 
in  six  several  platoons  advanced  for  to  make  the  first  attack  with  an 
detachment    of    horse    to    sustain    them    [  y     Admiral    Herbert 

ordered  all  his  long  boats  man'd  with  his  sea-men  to  advance,  as  near 
to  their  battrie  of  8  piece  of  Cannon  as  they  could,  that  was  on  the 
east  of  the  town  that  play'd  on  the  ships  in  the  harbour,  which  proved 
of  very  good  effect  to  us,  for  it  made  a  diversion.  Macknie^  troop 
with  all  the  moll'd-^  horses  with  men  mounted  on  them  and  some  of 
our  worst  men  with  a  great  many  collours  and  drumms  was  ordered 
towards  Charles  fort  to  give  them  allarum  on  that  hand.  Our  detach- 
ments in  plottoons  being  ordered  to  fall  on  to  attack  the  several  places 
that  was  designed,  Captain  Fittrie,^  that  commanded  the  detachment 
of  guards  with  the  half  of  the  company  of  granadeers  of  Dumbarton's 
regiment  commanded  by  Lieut  Mak^  having  bravely  advanced  near 
to  the  place  of  arms  where  they  had  the  piece  of  Cannon,  the  enemy 
being  strong  in  guard  there,  made  great  fire  so  that  they  killed  several 
of  the  granadeers  and  f)f  Fittrie's  detachment  so  that  the  men  did 
shrink  and  retire  towards  the  fort,  the  150  men  that  sallied  out  of 
Polfort  commanded  be  Captain  Londie^  and  Hommes'''  that  was  ordered 

1  There  is  a  blank  space  of  -two  lines  in  original. 

2  Captain  Makenny,  commanded  one  of  the  old  troops  of  Horse  at  Tangier.  Routh,  p. 
322. 

3  i.e.,  the  horses  used  for  work  on  the  Mole. 

4  Captain  Fawtrey  (or  Fortrey) ;  commanded  a  Company  of  the  Duke  of  York's  Regiment, 
in  the  King's  Battalion. 

5  A  blank  after  Mak.  in  the  original.  Evidently  Lieut.  McCracken,  of  Dumbarton's. 
Lieutenant  in  April,  1679  (Oriiioiide  MSS.)  Captain  of  a  newly  raised  Company  in  Duni- 
bi.rton's,  22.9.1688.  Served  at  Tangier,  wounded  27.10.1680.  Killed  at  Steenkirk,  1692. 
(Jtujimriital  lireorils  and  Fortcxcuc.)  A  petition  of  1703  states  that  Cai)tain  MoCracken 
"  signalized  himself  at  Steenkirk  by  his  management  of  cannon."     (Valton.) 

6  Captain  R.  Lundy.     See  note  on  p.  10. 

7  Captain  George  Hume  of  Dumbarton's.  George  Hume,  Captain  in  Dumbarton's  in 
April,  1679.  (Ormonde  MSS.)  Commanded  the  Forlorn  hope  and  was  wounded,  14  May, 
1680.  Wounded  again,  27  October,  1680.  Did  not  embark  with  his  Company  in  1684.  Does 
not  appear  in  any  subsequent  lists. 


1 6  TANGIER — 1680. 

to  attack  their  advanced  trench  finding  likewayes  great  resistance 
there  and  both  the  Captain  being  wounded  very  soon  in  the  beginning, 
and  carried  off,  upon  this  the  detachment  retired  towards  the  fort,  our 
right  hand  being  put  in  this  condition  meerly  be  the  fauh  of  the 
battalion  of  the  guards  tliat  did  not  move  at  a  fit  distance  with  Fittrie's 
detachment  to  keep  their  men  in  countenance,  I,  who  had  charges 
and  manadgement  of  the  attack  on  the  left  hand  their  place  of  arms, 
at  Monmouth  fort,  with  our  2  battallions  and  the  battalion  of  seamen, 
I  commanded  Captain  Melville^  with  his  detachment  and  the  other  half 
of  our  company  of  granadeers  to  fall  on  and  attack  the  place  of  arms, 
I  moveing  at  a  just  distance  to  him  with  our  battallions  beside  I  prayed 
Captain  Coy,''  that  was  upon  the  left  hand  of  all  with  his  troop,  to 
advance  towards  the  place  of  arms  at  a  soft^  gallop,  this  encouraged 
our  detachment  so  that  they  immediately  fell  in  to  the  place  of  arms 
with  the  Moores,  and  the  Moores  seing  our  battalions  so  near  with 
Coy's  troop  of  horse  they  run  so  we  was  Masters  of  it  with  little  loss. 
Captain  Lakirf^  who  commanded  the  detachment  of  our  first  Battalion 
seeing  Captain  Fattries  men  in  disorder  and  likwayes  the  150  men  that 
sallied  out  of  F^olfort  he  very  opportunely  fell  in  upon  their  trench  on 
the  left  hand  of  their  piece  of  Cannon  in  the  place  of  arms,  where 
they  continued  disputeing  the  business  hotely  till  Lieut.  Mackrakrin 
who  had  keeped  his  granadeers  together  and  seeing  all  things  going 
well  on  the  left  hand  at  Monmouth  fort  he  advanced  again  to  the 
place  of  arms  so  near  as  to  bestow  his  granads  amongst  them  which 
he  did  liberally,  and  being  followed  with  Captain  Fattrie  and  them 
that  sallied  out  of  the  fort  advanced  again,  then  the  battallion  of 
guards  began  to  move.  Lieutenant  Mackrakrin  seing  the  disorder  he 
had  put  amongst  them  with  his  granads  fell  in  amongst  them  and 
being  followed  be  Captain  Fittrie  the  Moores  run,  and  left  our  men 
Masters  of  the  place  of  arms,  and  the  piece  of  Cannon;  the  Moores 
that  was  beat  from  their  several  posts  retired  to  James  Fort  having 
left  many  killed  and  wounded  behind  them,  the  Moores  be  this  time 
having  got  all  their  force  from  their  camp  was  betwixt  James  fort  and 
sand  hill  fort  and  in  their  trenches  betwixt  sand-hill  fort  and  Monmouth 


1  Patrick  Melville.  Captain  in  Dumbarton's  in  April,  1679.  {Ormonde  MSS.)  Served 
at  Tangier.  Captain  in  1684.  Murdo  McKenzie  appointed  (Captain,  vice  "  late  Pat. 
Melville,"  1.10.1684.  Barbara  Melville,  widow  of  late  Captain  Melville,  of  the  Royal  Foot, 
"  died  in  the  Service,"   awarded  a  pension  of  £30,   in  list  of  1694-1700.     (Dalton.) 

2  Captain  John  Coy,  commanding  one  of  the  six  troops  of  Horse,  raised  by  the  Earl  of 
Ossory  in  1680,  for  service  in  Tangier,  which  eventually  became  the  1st  Royal  Dragoons. 
Coy  had  served  in  the  Duke  of  Monmouth's  Regiment  of  Horse  and  was  subsequently 
Colonel  of  the  6th  Horse  (2nd  Irish  Horse),  now  the  5th  D.Gs.,  1688-97.  He  commanded  a 
brigade  of  C^avalry  in  Flanders,  1695-6.     {Dalton,  lioutfi.   Davis,  Cannon.) 

3  Slow.     See  later  where   he  speaks  of   "  retiring  softly." 

^  Captain  Julius  Lockhart,  of  Dumbarton's.  Appears  as  Lucius  Lockhart  in  Ross's  "  Old 
Scottish  Co/outs."  (Captain  in  1679.  {Ormonde  MSS.)  Second  in  Command  of  Forlorn 
Hope,  20.9.1680.  Wounded  27.10.1680.  Appears  to  have  left  the  Regiment  in  1681,  as 
Captain  A.    Urquhart  replaced  him. 


TANGIER — 1680.  17 

fort,  they  being  beat  from  their  several  posts  where  they  keeped 
guard,  I  judged  time  to  attack  those  trenches  betwixt  Monmouth  fort 
and  Sandhill  fort  with  the  first  battallion  of  Dumbarton's  regiment, 
being  sustained  with  the  second,  they  being  numerous  there  and 
sustained  with  all  their  force,  yet  we  very  soon  beatt  them  out  of  the 
first  trench,  they  retired  without  the  old  line  betwixt  Sandhill  fort  and 
Monmouth,  and  from  that  line  they  did  gall  us  extreamely,  we  being 
near  and  exposed  to  their  fire  wMth  whole  bodie.  I  ordered  our  Drums 
to  beat  the  charge  so  that  our  battallions  might  move  altogether  in 
passing,  we  had  great  loss  in  passing  that  trench  especially  of  our 
officers,  passing  first ;  so  soon  as  we  was  over  the  trench  w  ith  our 
Battallion,  the  Moores  run  precipitantly  from  the  outside  of  the  old 
line,  a  Serjeant  of  Capt.  Morrays^  Company  with  some  few  soldiers 
passed  the  line,  and  fell  in  amongst  the  Moores,  and  took  a  Colloures 
which  was  the  first  that  was  taken;  the  first  battalion  of  Insquine,^ 
at  the  same  time  I  attacked  their  trenches,  entered  in  skirmish  at  some 
distance  on  our  right  hand,  upon  the  advancing  of  a  few  Moores 
horse,  the  battallion  brake  and  ran  most  shamefully,  so  that  almost 
all  the  day  after  during  the  action  there  was  no  such  thing  to  be  found 
as  the  first  battalion  of  Insquiny's  Regimt.,  the  second  battallion  of 
Insquiny,  commanded  be  Captain  Jailes  seing  things  had  succeeded 
w^ell  with  us,  they  came  up  to  the  line  on  our  right  hand  near  to  the 
ruines  of  Sandhill  fort  where  the  Moores  retired  that  we  had  beat  from 
the  trenches  [  Y  they    [  ]*  they  had  it   bote  being  flanked 

from  James  Fort,  the  men  beginning  to  wearie,  Captain  Jaile  called 
to  me  and  said  he  could  not  keep  his  men  no  longer,  and  asked  me 
what  he  should  doe  :  I  ordered  him  to  retire  softly,  and  gave  him 
great  assistance  of  our  officers  to  keep  his  men  from  running,  which 
thev  had  great  inclination  to  doe;  the  Moores  seing  their  battallion 
retire  something  precipitantlv  followed  them,  horse  and  foot,  close 
on  their  reere.  I  had  dispt'sed  our  battallions  in  the  best  order  we 
could  to  take  their  ground,  I  advanced  with  our  battallions  and  gave 
them  a  french^  discharge,  which  stoped  their  pursute,  and  made  them 
run  to  the  ruines  of  sandhill  fort  again  :  the  battallion  of  seamen,  who 
was  left  on  the  line  near  Monmouth  fort,  they  seeing  the  good  success 
we  had  in  beating  the  enemy  from  their  trenches,  they  past  over  the 
line  and  moved  to  the  east,  over  the  sand  hills,  be  this  time  near  to 
the  place  of  arms  where  the  Moores  had  their  piece  of  Cannon  ;  Lieut. 
Coll.  Sakville  had  caused  fill  up  their  trench  for  to  make  a  passage  for 


1  Captain  James  Murray,  of  Dumbarton's. 

2  William  O'Brien,  Earl  of  Inchiquin,  1638-92.  Had  served  in  France  and  Spain  :  and 
had  been  taken  prisoner  by  Corsairs  and  ranso:i!ed,  circa  1660.  Governor  of  Tangier, 
1675  80.     Governor  of  Jamaica,  where  he  died  1692.     (See   '  D.N.B.') 

3  Words  illegible  in  original. 

4  Blank  in  original.  5  ?  fresh. 


l8  TANGIER — 1680. 

our  horse,  and  ordered  Don  Salnedors^,  the  Commandant  of  the 
Spaniards,  to  pass  with  his  troop,  he  designing  no  more  of  the  horse 
to  engage,  Captain  Nedbe^  that  was  on  the  left  hand  near  Monmouth 
fort  with  his  troop,  seeing  the  vSpanish  troop  led  over  the  trench  be 
Lieut.  Coll.  Sakvile,  he  past  the  line  near  Monmouth  fc^rt  with  his 
troop,  and  moved  till  he  got  on  the  head  of  the  seamen  ;  in  this  time 
we  had  disputed  hotely  with  our  two  battalions  of  Dumbarton's  with 
the  Moores,  that  was  posted  about  the  mines  of  Sandhill  fort,  till  we 
beat  them  from  thence,  and  was  Masters  of  the  place,  notwithstanding, 
they  were  sustained  with  all  their  force,  and  we  being  flanked  from 
James  fort,  which  did  gall  us  extreamely,  so  that  our  loss  w^as  very 
great  above  250  soldiers  and  24  officers  of  our  two  battallions,  that  was 
killed  and  wounded;  if  the  battalion  of  the  guards^  had  been  so  kind 
to  us  as  to  put  themselves  in  the  old  line  that  goes  from  the  place  of 
arms  to  James  fort,  they  might  a  made  our  work  much  easier,  and 
cheaper  to  us,  which  might  a  done  without  exposeing  themselves,  but 
they  judged  it  safer  for  them  to  continue  within  the  place  of  arms: 
so  soon  as  I  was  master  of  the  ruines  of  Sandhillfort,  1  found  still  our 
battallions  was  much  exposed  to  the  enemies  fire  from  James  fort,  I 
judged  absolutely  necessare  either  to  retire  to  have  some  covert,  or  to 
undertake  to  beat  them  from  James  fort;  and  finding  our  men  still  in 
heart,  notwithstanding  the  great  loss  we  had  and  I  seing  Lieut.  Coll. 
Sakevile  and  Don  Salledore  with  his  troop  advancing  towards  us, 
which  gave  us  assurance,  I  moved  to  James  fort  with  our  battallions 
where  the  most  of  the  enemies  force  was,  with  several  coUours;  the 
Moores  seing  us  and  the  troop  of  horse  advancing  and  Captain  Nedbe 
that  was  in  pursute  some  scattered  Moores  over  the  sandhills  towards 
their  camp,  they  ran  without  makeing  great  resistance  there  to  all 
hands;  so  soon  as  I  can  the  length  of  James  fort  with  our  two 
battallions,  I  see  the  Moores  pulling  off  a  small  brass  piece  of  Cannon 
towards  their  camp,  and  finding  the  Moores  running  precipitantly  to 
all  hands  I  passed  the  old  line  at  James  fort,  I  seing  but  very  few 
horse  of  the  enemy  in  the  field,  and  beat  them  from  their  Cannon,  and 
I  charged  our  aid-major  to  cause  pull  in  the  Cannon  towards  Polfort; 
be  this  time  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakevile  with  Don  vSallnedo's  troop  was  come 
the  length  of  James  fort,  and  seeing  the  Moores  running,  he  was 
ordered  to. charge  them  that  was  running  towards  their  Camp,  he  very 
deliberatly  for  some  time  looked  about  him,  till  he  saw  Capt.  Nedbe 
almost  into  their  Camp  in  pursute  of  them,  then  he  at  a  good  brisk 
gallop  charged,  where  they  convoyed  the  Moores  the  length  of  their 
camp,  in  makeing  all  the  way  very  good  use  of  their  swords  the  Moores 


1  Don  Salvador  de  Monforte. 

2  Charles  Neatby,  or  Needby.  Had  served  in  Monmouth's  Regiment  of  Horse  and  com- 
manded at  Tangier  one  of  the  six  Troops  raised  by  the  Earl  of  Ossory  in  1680,  which  eventu- 
ally became   1st  Royal   Dragoons. 

5  O.C.  King's  Battn.,  "  although  strongly  urged  by  his  officers,  refused  to  move  to 
support  of  the  Scots."     (.Hamilton.) 


TANC.IER — 1680.  19 

having  thrown  away  their  arms  in  their  camp ;  he  mett  with  Captain 
Nedhe  and  his  troop  that  had  made  good  use  of  his  time,  then  they 
thought  it  titt  to  retire,  Capt.  Nedhe  having  taken  two  colloures,  one 
with  his  own  hands;  and  Don  Galinedos  one  colloures,  so  they  came 
off  with  very  httle  loss  :  some  few  of  our  foot  out  of  greed  of  plunder 
stole  from  our  Battallions,  went  too  far  out,  where  some  was  killed  : 
after  the  2  troop  of  horse  retired  again  within  the  old  line,  I  was  posted 
with  our  two  Battallions  at  James  fort  and  near  it  all  the  rest  of  the 
day,  till  5  a  clock,  where  I  continued  in  skirmish  with  the  enemie, 
that  had  the  confidence  to  return  again  with  their  collours  after  so 
considerable  a  loss  as  they  had,  and  we  having  made  a  full  discoverie 
of  their  force,  which  w^as  remarkable  after  all  their  trenches  was  filled 
up  all  round  polfort  and  a  little  addition  to  polfort,  we  resolved  to 
retire  into  Town  so  this  days  work  past  much  hapilyer  than  the  most 
part  believed,  although  our  loss  was  great,  which  was  well  timed  and 
well  enough  designed,  and  most  bravely  be  a  part  of  the  troops,  but 
the  great  fault  of  all  was  that  all  our  troops  of  horse  was  not  suffered 
to  engadge,  which  if  they  had  they  would  certainly  given  an  account 
of  all  the  Moores  that  they  had  before  the  Town,  for  the  Moores 
prisoners  that  was  taken  in  the  action  said  their  armie  consisted  of 
about  3,000  men,  there  did  not  appear  so  many  in  the  action  and  not 
above  a  100  horse;  the  next  day  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakvile  sent  them  out 
their  dead  bodies  that  w^as  killed  within  our  old  lines,  their  loss  was 
great  but  they  believed  it  much  greater  than  it  was,  as  they  con- 
fessed themselves,  for  there  deserted  many  of  their  men  so  that  they 
did  not  know^  whither  they  were  killed  or  not,  and  they  were  certainly 
very  much  discouraged  with  their  defeat,  for  there  appeared  no  Moores 
for  3  or  4  days  after  near  the  Town  :  till  that  the  Alcad  Domar 
returned  to  them,  for  he  was  not  at  the  action,  for  it  was  the  Alcad  of 
Titoune  that  commanded  them,  at  his  return  he  found  his  armie 
extreamely  discouraged  and  diminished,  yet  he  resolved  to  put  a  good 
countenance  on,  as  you  may  judge  be  this  short  letter  that  he  wrote 
to  Sir  Pames,  believing  he  was  still  alive,  as  it  was  interpret  so, 
"  I  arrived  here  yesternight  and  1  have  heard  of  your  action  Wednesday 
"  last  which  I  believe  was  not  cheap  to  neither  of  us,  and  likewayes 
"  that  you  most  cruelly  caused  murder  many  of  our  men  in  cold  blood, 
"after  you  took  them  into  Town,  if  this  be  true  I  would  have  no  more 
"  dealling  with  you,  now  you  know  I  am  here  and  that  the  war  is  not 
"  yet  at  ane  end." 

I  was  at  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakevile's  Chamber  when  he  received  this 
letter,  he  shewed  concernment ;  and  when  it  was  read,  he  with  several 
others  that  believed  that  the  Alcad  Domar  was  so  proud  and  ambitious 
a  man  and  could  command  what  force  he  pleased  would  be  more 
incensed  than  discouraged  with  the  late  defeat,  and  would  think  upon 
nothing  but  revenge;  I  told  Coll.  Sakevile,  at  that  same  time,  there 
being  nobody  by,  that  certainly  the  Alcad  had  write  this  letter  to  show 
a  good  countenance,   and  that   it  was  not  to  be  believed  they  could 


20  TANGIER — 1680. 

continue  long  before  the  Town,  or  get  more  force,  considering  that  it 
is  now  the  season  that  they  butt  of  necessity  to  labour  their  ground, 
and  that  there  never  presented  so  good  ane  occasion  to  have  ane 
honourable  and  advantagious  peace  as  now. 

The  next  day  after,  the  Alcad  wrote  a  letter  to  Admiral  Herbert, 
the  substance  of  it  was  in  complaining  of  my  Lord  Insequine  and  Sir 
Fames  that  they  had  several  times  broke  their  word  to  him,  and  that 
lie  could  not  ctinfide  in  them,  and  that  he  would  enter  into  a  treatie 
of  peace  with  him ;  now  they  are  the  first  that  makes  the  offer  of  peace, 
and  showed  ane  earnest  desire  to  goe  about  it  soon,  so  that  in  reason 
we  m'ght  expected  of  them  what  they  refused  before  to  Sir  Fames; 
after,  the  Admiral  sent  his  answer  to  the  Alcad,  and  told  he  commanded 
only  the  King's  fleet  and  that  there  was  a  necessity  he  behoved  to  treat 
with  the  governour. 

Then  the  nixt  day  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakevile  caused  draw  a  letter  to 
send  to  the  Alcad  to  this  purpose, — he  told  that  Sir  Fames  was  dead, 
and  that  our  loss  was  very  considerable  in  the  late  action,  and  that  he 
succeeded  to  the  government,  and  had  full  power  from  the  King  to 
treate  for  a  lasting  peace  with  them,  and  that  he  would  send  out  an 
ambassadour.  He  sent  this  letter  to  the  Admiral,  to  know  whether 
he  approved  of  it  to  be  sent,  the  Admiral  sent  him  word  he  did  not 
approve  of  the  letter;  yet,  notwithstanding,  he  sent  immediately  the 
letter  to  tlie  Alcad,  now  any  reasonable  man  may  judge  that  this  letter 
would  be  very  agreeable  to  the  Alcad;  it  was  necessare  to  tell  them 
that  Sir  Fames  was  dead,  because  he  behoved  to  treate  in  his  own 
name;  but  why  to  tell  them  that  our  loss  was  considerable,  I  cannot 
tell,  unless  it  was  to  appease  the  Alcad  that  he  judged  was  so  bent 
on  revenge,  the  Alcad  without  difficulty  would  conclude  that  Sir 
Fames  was  killed  in  the  last  action  and  would  say  to  his  officers  that 
was  much  discouraged  with  their  late  defeat,  and  wearied  of  the  war, 
that  certainly  we  was  more  discouraged  with  our  loss  than  they  with 
theirs,  as  appeared  plainly  by  our  governour's  letter,  so  we  found  the 
effect  of  Sakevile's  letter  for  the  nixt  morning  we  found  all  the  Moores 
force  again  posted  round  as  near  as  they  could.  Then  Lieut.  ColJ. 
Sakevile  ordered  a  councill  of  war  to  he  at  the  Admiral's  Lodgeing 
to  have  our  opinions  concerning  the  Cessation  of  arms,  he  representing 
how  well  it  would  relish  v\ith  the  King  to  have  a  peace  at  any  condition 
at  that  conjuncture  of  time,  everyone  was  of  the  opinion  ane  occasion 
to  have  so  honourable  and  so  advantagious  a  peace  as  then,  and  to 
have  a  care  that  there  was  not  bad  preparative  made,  since  the  King's 
Ambassador  was  expected  every  day  to  land,  who  had  the  King's 
instructions  concerning  the  peace,  and  my  Lord  Flimouth's  Regiment^ 
with  200  recruits  to  my  Lord  Dumbarton's  Companies  which  was  a 
considerable  reinforce  to  a  garrison  after  they  had  beat  the  enemy  in 
the  fields,  and  that  we  judged  it  better  to  continue  in  fortifying  of 
Folfort,  which  the  Moores  durst  not  offered  to  hinder  us,  and  not  to 


1  The  2nd  Tangier  Regiment ;   in  1922  "  The  King's  Own  Royal  Regiment  (Lancaster)." 


TANGIER — 1680.  2 I 

precipitate  In  the  treatie,  but  wait  the  Ambassador's  coming,  and  the 
forces  that  he  knew  was  on  the  way;  if  the  Moores  would  not  con- 
descend to  what  we  might  justly  expected:  but  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakvile, 
linding  our  opinions  differ  from  his  own,  he  resolved  to  consult  us 
no  more,  and  would  have  all  the  honour  of  the  management  of  the 
treatie  to  himself  and  Mr.  Shears,  who  was  his  only  counsellor;  so  he 
made  choice  of  Mr.  Beather,  who  is  no  sojer  and  sent  him  out  with 
his  instructions  to  the  Alcad.  The  Alcad  in  the  beginning  believed 
there  was  some  cheat  in  the  business,  finding  things  so  easie  and  we 
so  bent  on  the  peace,  but  at  last  he  found  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakevile  in 
good  earnest,  so  that  what  be  threatenings  and  be  fair  promises,  when 
the  Ambassadors  came,  that  all  the  countrey  as  far  out  as  we  pleased 
should  be  at  our  service  so  that  he  brought  our  unable  and  timerous 
managers  to  what  he  pleased  I  cannot  but  wonder  extreamely  at  Lieut. 
Coll.  Sakevile  who  is  a  man  of  so  little  service  and  experience  in  the 
wars,  how  he  durst  adventure  to  go  on  in  a  treatie,  without  the  advice 
of  the  Admiral  and  officers  of  service,  and  to  condescend  to  such 
dishonourable  and  disadvantagious  things,  as  the  paying  of  powder 
and  arms  yearly,  and  other  expensive  things  to  the  King,  to  an 
enemie  to  make  such  a  preparative  when  he  was  sure  he  could  have 
had  a  cessation  of  arms  till  the  King's  Ambassador  came  over,  and 
the  forces,  that  had  landed  some  four  or  5  days  after,  that  he  had 
concluded  and  agreed  everything  with  the  Alcad,  and  some  few  days 
after  Sir  James  Lesley^  landed  who  was  sent  Ambassador  from  the 
King,  and  he  finding  his  business  almost  quite  spoiled  by  the  bad 
preparative  that  our  timerous  and  unable  manager  of  the  peace  had 
made  in  condescending  to  such  mean  and  disadvantageous  things 
especially  after  a  victory,  which  has  certainly  made  the  Moores  believe 
that  the  King  w  ill  condescend  to  anything  rather  than  to  enter  to  war 
with  them.  Sir  James,  who  was  always  imployed  in  all  the  business 
of  treaties  with  the  Moores,  and  understands  well  what  they  are,  he 
had  yet  thoughts  to  going  it  about  so  as  to  have  a  lasting  peace  upon 
more  advantageous  terms,  than  what  was  condescended  to.  Lieut.- 
Coll.  Sakevile  preceiving  his  designe,  who  thought  it  would  be  a 
great  reflection  on  him  that  anything  should  be  mended  or  bettered 
that  he  had  condescended  to.  he  then  puts  it  to  Sir  James  Lesley,  to 
sign  that  agreement  that  he  had  made  with  the  Alcad  Domar,  Sir 
James  who  found  so  many  disadvantageous  things  in  it,  he  excuses 
himself  that  he  was  not  present  in  the  time  of  the  war,  nor  in  the  time 
of  the  treatie,  this  made  Mr.  Shears  and  Lieut.  Collonell  Kirk^  and 
those  that  had  signed  that  agreement  to  be  Sir  James  enemie,  so 
that  they  endeavoured  to  diminish  his  credit  with  the  King  of  Morroco 


1  Captain  James  Leslie,  had  served  as  Ckjrnet  in  a  Troop  of  Horse  at  Tangier,  in  1664. 
Was  appointed  Major  in  Tangier  Regiment  of  Foot  1680,  and  Lieut. -Colonel  in  1687.  Was 
knighted  when  appointed  Ambassador  to  the  Moors.  Surrendered  Dixmude  in  1695,  for 
which    he  was  cashiered.     (liouth.    Dalton.     I.    177.) 

2  The  well-known  Colonel  Percy  Kirke,  of  the  old  Tangier  Regiment,  now  "  The  Queen's 
Royal  Regiment  (West  Surrey)  "—known  as  Kirke's  Lambs.    See   '  D.N.B.' 


22  TANGIER — l68o. 

and  the  Alcad,  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakvile  wrote  over  that  they  were  not 
satisfied  with  Sir  James  being  sent  embassadour,  because  he  was  not 
of  quality  enough,  so  that  he  would  be  obliged  to  send  Lieut. ^  Kirk 
to  the  lunperor  before  Sir  James  went,  a  very  prettie  invention  indeed 
for  the  Moores  has  not  so  much  that  distinction  of  quality  amongst 
them  as  any  other  nation  has,  and  vSir  James  told  me  himself,  when 
he  came  to  the  lunperor's  Court  he  could  very  well  have  mended  that 
agreement  that  Sakvile  had  made,  if  it  had  not  been  Lieut.  Coll.  Kirk 
that  hindered  it,  so  it  proved  that  Sakevile's  Ambassador  had  more 
credit  there  than  the  King's;  so  Sir  James  had  not  much  more  to  doe 
but  to  deliver  the  King's  presents  to  the  Kmperor,  upon  which  the 
Emperor  complemented  Sir  James  with  the  quiteing  of  that  article 
which  obliged  the  King  to  pay  so  many  bolls^  of  cloath  yearly,  now 
if  Lieut.  Coll.  Sakeville  finds  this  reflect  highly  upon  him,  and  say  that 
there  is  no  truth  in  what  1  say,  I  advise  him  to  tell  the  King  that  he 
had  the  good  fortune  to  be  at  the  head  of  one  of  the  prettiest  actions 
that  has  been  done  since  the  King's  restauration,  and  yet  I  who 
served  under  his  command  does  say  and  will  prove  he  deserves  to  loss 
his  head  for  his  management  there,  for  he  opposed  everything  that 
was  right  designed  and  for  the  good  of  the  place,  and  certainly  it 
concerns  his  Majestie's  .Service  to  go  to  the  bottome  of  this,  to  make 
a  distinction  betwixt  those  that  served  him  well  and  ill.  Now  what 
1  have  observed  or  can  learn  concerning  the  Moores  is,  that  they 
cannot  maintain  a  considerable  army  before  Tangier  for  several 
reasons;  for  their  prince  gives  no  pay,  nor  can  not  for  they  have  little 
or  no  comerce  with  Christendom,  their  countrey  is  waste,  without 
villages,  so  that  soldiers  can  get  nothing  wherewithal  to  subsist,  their 
Towns  is  far  separat,  and  not  populous  from  whence  he  has  his 
soldiers,  and  obey  him  far  more  for  fear  than  love.  The  Mountaneers 
is  not  at  his  command,  for  they  run  betwixt  him  and  his  Nevoy,'  as 
they  find  things  uneasie  to  them,  and  shuns  all  occasions  of  going  to 
the  wars. 

I  have  seen  the  strongest  army  they  have  had  before  Tangier 
since  the  King  has  had  the  place;  the  greatest  number  at  a  time  was 
when  the  Earle  of  Tiviot  was  a  building  Charles  fort,  and  certainly 
would  give  them  as  much  jealousie  as  anything,  that  Christians  should 
enlarge  themselves  in  their  country,  so  that  Galland  did  bring  all  the 
force  that  possibly  he  could  bring  against  the  Town  which  I  judge 
was  betwixt  three  or  four  thousand  men." 


Here  the  MSS.  ends  abruptly. 


1  Lieut. -Colonel. 

2  An  old  Scots  dry   measure,  generally   used   for  grain,    potatoes,   etc.     A   boll   of  canvas 
was  36  yards. 

3  ?  nephew. 


TANGIER — 1680.  23 

lUliLIOGRAPHY. 

1.  English  Army  IJsts  and  Commission  Registers.  1661  — 1714. 
Charles  Dalton.     Ir!yre  and  Spottisvvoode.     1892,  etc.     6  Vols. 

2.  History  of  the  British  Standing  Army.  a.d.  1660  to  1700.  By 
Colonel  Clifford  Walton.     Harrison  and  vSons.     18(^4 

(Note. — The  illustrations  to  this  book  were  never  published. 
The  original  drawings  are  preserved  in  The  Roval 
United  Service  Institution.) 

3.  A  History  of  The  British  Army.  By  The  Hon.  J.  W.  Fortescue. 
Macmillan  and  Co.,  Limited.     Vol.  I.     1899. 

4.  The  Regimental  Records  of  The  Royal  Scots  (The  First  or  The 
Royal  Regiment  of  Foot.)  Compiled  by  J.  C.  Leask,  and  H.  M. 
McCance.     Alexander  Thorn  and  Co.,  Ltd.     1915. 

5.  A  General  and  Compleat  List  Military  of  Every  Commission- 
Officer  of  Horse  and  Foot  now  Commanding  His  Majesties  Land 
Forces  of  England.     (Excepting  the  Un-Regimented  Companies). 

As  Establish 't  at  the  time  of  the  Review  upon 

Putney-Heath,  the  First  of  October,    1684.     As  also  an  Account 
of  the  said  Revew,  &c. 

Printed  by  /.  Gain  for  Nathan  Brooks,  at  Thomas 
Knapton's,  next  Door  to  the  FIving-Horse  in  Upper  Moor-Fields, 
1684. 

6.  The  vScots  Peerage.  Edited  by  Sir  James  Balfour  Paul.  Vol.  L 
David  Douglas.     1904-11.     8  vols. 

7.  Tangier.  England's  lost  Atlantic  outpost.  1661 — 1684.  By 
Miss  E.  M.  Routh.     John  Murray.     191 2. 

8.  The  History  of  the  Second,  Queen's  Royal  Regiment,  Now  the 
Queen's  (Royal  West  Surrey)  Regiment.  By  Lieut.-Colonel  John 
Davis.  Richard  Bentlev  Sc  Son.  1887.  Vol.  L  From  1661  to 
1684. 

9.  The  Origin  and  History  of  the  First  or  Grenadier  Guards.  By 
Lieut.-General  Sir  F.  W.  Hamilton.  John  Murray.  1874. 
3  vols. 

10.  Historical  Record  of  The  First,  or  the  Royal  Regiment  of 
Dragoons.  Richard  Cannon.  Longman,  Orme,  and  Co.,  and 
Messrs.  Clowes  and  vSons.     1840. 

11.  A  Particular  Narrative  of  a  Great  Engagement  Between  the 
Garison  of  Tangier,  and  the  Moors,  and  of  the  Signal  Victory 
which  His  Majestie's  Forces  obtained  by  them  on  the  27th  of 
October  last.     Printed  by  Thomas  Newcombe.     1680. 

12.  Old  Scottish  Regimental  Colours.  Andrew  Ross.  William 
Blackwood  and  vSons.     Edinburgh  and  London.     1885. 

13.  Tangers  Rescue;  Or  a  Relation  of  The  late  Memorable  Passages 
at  Tanger.     By  John  Ross.     Printed  for  Hen.  Htlls.     1681, 


24  TANGIER — 1680. 

14.  The  Dictionary  of  National  Biography  (D.N.B.). 

15.  A  Precis  of  the  history  of  The  Royal  Scots.  By  Colonel  G.  Upton 
Prior.     Printed  privately  at  Glasgow.     1886. 

16.  Historical  Manuscript  Commission.  14th  Report.  Appendix. 
Part  VII.  The  Manuscripts  of  the  Marquis  of  Ormonde.  Vol.  I. 
1 895  ;  Vol  .11.1 899  ;  I  ndex  1 909 . 

Historical  Manuscript  Commission.  Calendar  of  the  Manu- 
scripts of  the  Marquess  of  Ormonde,  K.P.  \e\v  Series.  7  Vols. 
1902-1912. 


THE       JOURNAL. 


It  has  been  felt  by  the  Council,  for  some  time  past,  that  our  little 
Journal  has  not  quite  reached  the  standard  at  which  we  aimed  when 
the  Society  was  first  started;  this  is  largely  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
Editor  is  not  receiving  a  sufficient  number  of  the  right  type  of  Article, 
and  has  little  material  to  select  from  when  forming  a  number. 

Memoers  ui  tiie  r^ociety  are  asked  to  recognise  this  fact,  and  that 
the  Couni-il  looks  to  them  to  assist  in  every  way. 

ii  IS  suggesieu  ni.ii  iiiuics  on  the  following  subjects  would  be 
acceptable,  ^•iz,  :  — 

Eai.,    ^...uiial  aud  Dominion  campaigns  and  incidents. 

Legends  of  Regiments,  especially  Highland  Corps. 

Disbanded  Regiments. 

Accounts  of  old  Indian  Regiments. 

Regimental  Colours,  Drum-banners,  Standards  and  Guidons. 

Army  and  Regimental  Medals. 

Arms,  Clothing  and  Equipment. 

Historical  Mess  Plate. 

Historical   Plate  presented   by    Regiments  and   larger  bodies   of 
troops  to  Distinguished  Commanders. 

Regimental  Buttons,  Badges  and  Uniform  generally. 

Regimental  Mottos. 

Relics  and  Curios  of  Regmu  iii.>. 

Articles  on  Early  Militia,  Fencibles.  Local  Militia  and' Volunteer 
Regiments. 

Many  Members  of  the  Society  are  known  to  be  experts  on  these 
subjects,  and  these  are  specially  asked  to  contribute  articles,  which 
should  be  short  and  to  the  point. 

The  Journal  will  not  be  in  a  sound  position  until  the  Editor  has 
at  his  disposal  sufficient  material  for  a  year's  issue. 

(Sgd.)     A.  Leetham,  Lt. -Colonel, 

Chairman. 


Catal 


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Prints  bought  for  casl 


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^K  INITIAL  riKK  or  2^C™ 

W.UU  BE  ASSESSED   FOR   FA.UURE  ^^^^^^ 

THIS   BOOK   °^'/;;\^';7^?s  ON  THE  FOURTH 

Tv^ir^o   Joo   o"the   seventh    C.. 

OVERDUE. 


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misfortune 
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the  subscri 


The  Hon 

Th.  ______—  — 

LD21-100m-12.'43  (87968) 

J .,     >^vriIVtUII,    3.W«t 

The  Hon.  Editor, 

Gunnersholme,  .Melbourne  Avenue,  Sheffield, 


Gaylamount 

Pamphlet 

Binder 

Gajriord  Broa..  !■«. 

Stockton.  Calif. 
T.  M.  R«f.  U.S.  Pat. Off. 


M52049    DT 


THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  CAUFORNIA  UBRARY